Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim: Prohibition of Worship in Al-Aqsha Violates International Law

Usually during Ramadan tens of thousands of worshipers crowd the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex, but now all access for worshipers to get there is closed by Israel. (Source: WAFA)

JAKARTA - The Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for Foreign Relations and International Cooperation, Prof. Dr. Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, strongly condemned the actions of the Israeli occupation authorities who closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque and prohibited Muslims from praying in the holy month of Ramadan.

The action was considered a serious violation of international law and a clear form of discrimination against Palestinians.

Violation of International Law and Human Rights

Sudarnoto emphasized that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a holy site for the world's Muslims in an occupied territory. All forms of restrictions on access to worship there have no legal legitimacy.

"This closure is an insult to religious freedom and repressive policies that oppress the Palestinian people," Sudarnoto said in a written statement.

He detailed that Israel's policy violated several international legal instruments, including:

Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights & ICCPR: Guaranteeing the freedom of every individual to worship. 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention: The obligation of the occupying state to respect religious life. UN Resolution: Affirmation of the status of East Jerusalem as an occupied territory that must protect its holy sites.

Wide Impact for the Islamic World

Furthermore, MUI warned that this provocative action not only hurt the feelings of 1.5 billion global Muslims, but also had the potential to worsen stability in the Middle East.

"This Israeli move could trigger a wider escalation of the conflict due to the increasing anger of the international public," he added.

MUI expressed appreciation to the Foreign Ministers of Muslim countries who had issued similar condemnations. Sudarnoto also urged the United Nations (UN) to take concrete steps to protect holy sites and stop Israel's violations of the law.

Closing his statement, Sudarnoto conveyed several points of appeal:

Muslims: Increase prayers in Ramadan for the independence of Palestine and the liberation of Al-Aqsa. Interfaith figures: Strengthen humanitarian solidarity for universal justice. World governments: Increase diplomatic pressure to end the occupation and modern colonialism in Palestine.

"The struggle to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque is not only the business of Muslims, but a universal struggle to establish justice and world peace," he concluded.